Nice guys(people) finish last

I live my live by tret others as you'd like to bed treated. I'm polite and respectful to those who do the same to me, and for the most part people who don't. I'm a Christian, I try and live my life according to gods commands, and what do I get out of it? NOTHING! My fraternity just presented to the student government association on why we need funding to go to our national conference in Washington D.C.. We were told that we were approved for funding, and we just got an email today that says we did not receive any funding whatsoever... Why!?! (This is where I rant)All I do is try to be fair to others, and I get absolutely nothing in return, not that I expect it but everything I try to do gets thrown out or doesn't happen.

isuflyboy saidI live my live by tret others as you'd like to bed treated. I'm polite and respectful to those who do the same to me, and for the most part people who don't. I'm a Christian, I try and live my life according to gods commands, and what do I get out of it? NOTHING! My fraternity just presented to the student government association on why we need funding to go to our national conference in Washington D.C.. We were told that we were approved for funding, and we just got an email today that says we did not receive any funding whatsoever... Why!?! (This is where I rant)All I do is try to be fair to others, and I get absolutely nothing in return, not that I expect it but everything I try to do gets thrown out or doesn't happen.

isuflyboy, I'm addressing yo as one Christian to another. I'm curious as to what you mean by god's commandments. There are only two laws, love on another as you love yourself, and love your Maker more than that. Any other rule or saying or commandment etc are superseded, and some made invalid, by those two.

I'm not understanding, apologies, how that would somehow make god meddle so that your group would receive funding, or that anything you try would have god intervening to make you successful. God is there for your spiritual, not material, solace.

God is about this, not gain.

Cor13:1-4 " If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."

I understand that just because I do good I should get rewarded, that's not what I'm saying at all. But it just seems like nice people get screwed over all the time. I was offered an ra position last year and if I got the position that was the only way I could afford to come back to school, because flight fees were increased. I was declined for the job and got a second interview, and was denied the job again. I want/ need a new jeep, I really just want one because I had one and I miss the 4wd, but my dad goes off and guys a new truck he doesn't need and spends 25k on a bobcat... And my friends who don't believe in god, or no longer attend church, don't have any motivation to do anything get new stuff all the time. One of them just got a new jeep and he absolutely hates anything to do wi religious matters... I know it's not right to be jealous but it's really hard sometimes...

isuflyboy saidI understand that just because I do good I should get rewarded, that's not what I'm saying at all. But it just seems like nice people get screwed over all the time. I was offered an ra position last year and if I got the position that was the only way I could afford to come back to school, because flight fees were increased. I was declined for the job and got a second interview, and was denied the job again. I want/ need a new jeep, I really just want one because I had one and I miss the 4wd, but my dad goes off and guys a new truck he doesn't need and spends 25k on a bobcat... And my friends who don't believe in god, or no longer attend church, don't have any motivation to do anything get new stuff all the time. One of them just got a new jeep and he absolutely hates anything to do wi religious matters... I know it's not right to be jealous but it's really hard sometimes...

Oh Hey *hugs you*

isuflyboy, I understand you (see bold above) and can only offer this. I felt like you did long, long ago. I decided that my faith had nothing to do with material gain, and continued to try be the good person I felt I could be. Well, many years later, here I am, retired early at 58, owning my own house, in love with my man for 25 years coming up this Dec. Those things were achieved with my own sweat on my brow, sometimes dark lonely nights and long aching days. The only thing I asked from God was for strength, once I learned to stop expecting things from god and began expecting instead endurance from myself.

For those to whom much comes too easily, many learn less and in some cases are weaker than those who struggled for what they have. Not all, some.

isuflyboy saidI understand that just because I do good I should get rewarded, that's not what I'm saying at all. But it just seems like nice people get screwed over all the time. I was offered an ra position last year and if I got the position that was the only way I could afford to come back to school, because flight fees were increased. I was declined for the job and got a second interview, and was denied the job again. I want/ need a new jeep, I really just want one because I had one and I miss the 4wd, but my dad goes off and guys a new truck he doesn't need and spends 25k on a bobcat... And my friends who don't believe in god, or no longer attend church, don't have any motivation to do anything get new stuff all the time. One of them just got a new jeep and he absolutely hates anything to do wi religious matters... I know it's not right to be jealous but it's really hard sometimes...

Oh Hey *hugs you*

isuflyboy, I understand you (see bold above) and can only offer this. I felt like you did long, long ago. I decided that my faith had nothing to do with material gain, and continued to try be the good person I felt I could be. Well, many years later, here I am, retired early at 58, owning my own house, in love with my man for 25 years coming up this Dec. Those things were achieved with my own sweat on my brow, sometimes dark lonely nights and long aching days. The only thing I asked from God was for strength, once I learned to stop expecting things from god and began expecting instead endurance from myself.

For those to whom much comes too easily, many learn less and in some cases are weaker than those who struggled for what they have. Not all, some.

Is this making sense so far?

Yes, thank you guys for your support. I don't expect things for being a good person, but I'd just like a break every once in awhile

carew28 said"Oh Lord, won't You buy me A Mercedes-Benz My friends all drive Porsches, I must make amends. Worked hard all my lifetime No help from my friends So Oh Lord, won't You buy me A Mercedes-Benz"

J. Joplin I

I love that song. Janis Joplin's got the number for those so-called Christians.

To the OP:

I can understand your frustration by encountering a series of setbacks, but I think you're looking at your religion all wrong, which a lot of Christians apparently do. You're not supposed to be awarded material rewards, but by substantive things. Secondly, you shouldn't see something as being owed to you—your satisfaction in providing a good deed or for exhibiting good behavior is a reward onto itself.

And what about those who don't believe in god? They're supposed to be miserable? They don't deserve new stuff? Is this your approach to Christianity?

If this is the lens through which you see the world, I think you need to have a long talk with yourself and readjust your line of thinking so you can appreciate life in a new way, and not be so frustrated all the time.

I do feel bad that you have been turned down for jobs that you want, but you just have to keep it. In life, you don't lose until you give up. Have a new perspective and keep working at it. There are no guarantees, but you can increase your chances of getting what you want with perseverance.

Romans 13:1-7 ESV Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain.

Matthew 22:17-21 ESV / 74 helpful votes

Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said, “Caesar's.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.”

True but why single out Christians unless you have an agenda?When I was religious, many many years ago, we were taught, "We don't believe in a vending machine God where you put in your prayers and get out your wishes."

JohnSpotter said"Well, it does say a lot about a certain kind of Christian"

True but why single out Christians unless you have an agenda?When I was religious, many many years ago, we were taught, "We don't believe in a vending machine God where you put in your prayers and get out your wishes."

Am I singling out Christians, or just the understandable error of some?

JohnSpotter said"Well, it does say a lot about a certain kind of Christian"

True but why single out Christians unless you have an agenda?When I was religious, many many years ago, we were taught, "We don't believe in a vending machine God where you put in your prayers and get out your wishes."

Am I singling out Christians, or just the understandable error of some?

JohnSpotter said"Well, it does say a lot about a certain kind of Christian"

True but why single out Christians unless you have an agenda?When I was religious, many many years ago, we were taught, "We don't believe in a vending machine God where you put in your prayers and get out your wishes."

Am I singling out Christians, or just the understandable error of some?

I was talking about creature.

What agenda? The song is in address to the Lord, requesting material things. So yes, the song is critical of material wants, but more precisely, it is critical of Christians who twist the faith and request those material things from their Lord.